Cross-Strait trade down 12.2 percent

Trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan hit 76.29 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of this year, down 12.2 percent from the same period in 2013, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

The mainland's exports to Taiwan dropped 4.4 percent year on year to 17.08 billion U.S. dollars during the period. Imports from Taiwan totaled 59.21 billion U.S. dollars, down 14.3 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

Cross-Strait trade in May increased by 2.9 percent from the previous month to reach 17.32 billion U.S. dollars, the data showed.

In the first five months, the mainland approved 809 projects involving investment from Taiwan. Investment from Taiwan totaled 890 million U.S. dollars, down 15.2 percent year on year.